Wednesday, 14 November 2012

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1954: Results

5. Clifton Webb in Three Coins in a Fountain- Webb is a bit wasted in his film, but he does well to create a warmer take on his most frequent role as a snobbish intellectual.

Best Scene: Shadwell confesses both his love and the fact that he is dying.

4. Raymond Burr in Rear Window- Burr certainly gets help from his director, but in very key moments his performance as well amplifies power of his character within the film.

Best Scene: Thorwald notices Jeff.

3. Fred MacMurray in The Caine Mutiny- MacMurray makes for an excellent
villain playing the part with such charm that he tricks you into
thinking that he is not even the villain.

Best Scene: Keefer suggests the officers mutiny.

2. Peter Lorre in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea- Lorre is a very likable
and lends some very nice lighthearted relief in his film as the
endearing sidekick Conseil.

Best Scene: Any scene between Conseil and Ned Land.

1. Van Johnson in The Caine Mutiny-Johnson gives the best performance not nominated for an Oscar this year through his moving down to earth portrayal of a man who tries to do the right thing despite tremendous pressures all around him.

I just looked at this year again, having watched Dial M for Murder in the interim, and am somewhat disappointed to find John Williams outside of the top 10. I know he's only at #11 and that you liked his performance, but I felt he deserved more like 4 stars as opposed to 3.5. For me, he was the reason the last third of the film was so good. We all know Grace Kelly can't really act, so with Ray Milland gone for several important and lengthy scenes in the last third, a boost is needed to make it watchable, and I thought that John Williams more than filled that void. I'm not saying he's amazing or anything (it is a small part after all), but he's a strong 4, at least for me.